Contract services for cell culture and cytotoxicity service

Genetic toxicology

• Proof of DNA-repair systems for determination of mutagenous and cancerogenous substances using cultivated human fibroblasts
• Proofment of cancerogenic effects of different substances with the help of cell transformation assay using SHE cells (primary embryonal cells from syrian hamster)
• Chromosomal abberation- and micronuclear tests on SHE cells
• Assay for the determination of general cytotoxicity (determination of different parameters, with the help of cell lines)
• Mutation test on mammalian cell lines (HGPRT-Test with V-79 cells).

Biochemistry

• Investigations of enzyme activities by photometry. We determine the activity of enzymes in sera, cell homogenates and other biological fluids.
• Determination of the most important parameters of sera (total protein concentration, hemoglobin concentration, IgG etc).
• The following investigation in the sphere of clinical chemistry can be provided on request
  • Determination of biomolecules and other substances with ELISA.
• Biotinylization of antibodies and other biomolecules for histochemical proofment of substances in tissues.
• Endotoxin test in vitro (chromogene LAL-test). Electrophoresis and separation of proteins.

Immunology

• Development and distribution of human monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis and therapy.With the help of a fused cell line developed in our institute (mouse myeloma x human lymphocyte) we can produce advanced human monoclonal antibodies against viral antigenes and other proteins
  
• Production of monoclonal antibodies
• Production and distribution of interleukin-II, hum. monoklonal IgM, hum. monoklonal IgG against rabies-antigen, hum. beta-interferon
• Determination and characterization of human immunglobulin
• in vitro immunization of human lymphocytes

General cell culture

• Investigation of sera and biochemicals for:
  a) growing parameters (growing curves, plating and cloning efficiency etc).
  b) contamination with mycoplasma (DAPI-fluorescence).
  c) cytotoxicity (MTT-test, neutral red test etc.).
• Control of sterility (USP XXII).
• Proof of cell cultures for contamination with mycoplasma (DAPI- fluoresce method).

Pharmacology/Physiology

• Examination of cardiotonic substances on isolated heart cells. This heart cell model is offered as a short-term test for prescreening and final product examination of cardioactive substances. With the help of this method, mechanical properties of the contracting heart cells, ion mechanisms, cardiotoxic and biochemical parameters can be determinated (frequence, max. diastol potential, effect of spontaneous contraction, affinity and binding to the receptors).
• Examination of diuretic substances on the cultivated kidney cells. This test is developed in order to investigate the effects of diuretic substances on the homogeneous population of permanent dog cell culture in the absence of secondary effects of another tissues and organs.This test can be used for the determination of action of diuretic active substances as well as evaluation of risks. The following parameters can be determined:
  • Vectorial water transport
  • Active ion transport. Enzymes involved into active transport of ions.
  • Cytomorphological characteristics.

Consultations and service

• Practical cell culture courses
• Individual consultations and specialized courses in cell culture techniques and in different molecular cell methods.
• Consultations in molecular and cell biology.
• Certification.
• Data bank register (DIMDI, DATASTAR, Toxline, Medlars, Chemical abstracts, Cancerlit etc.).

Cytotoxicity services

• Determination of cytotoxicity of chemicals, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, prosthesises, dental amalgames and implantants with the help of cell culture. We offer four test systems with help of which it is possible to determine precisely cytotoxicity of the probe:
  • Agar-overlay test
  • Direct overlay test
  • Growing test
  • Growth inhibition test.

  The toxical effects are determined in three different experiments:

  1) Short-term effects within 24 h related with the cell membrane.
  2) Effects within 72 h, determining by the changes in the enzyme system of the cells.
  3) Long lasting effects, determining by the changes on the chromosomal level and changes of the general condition of the cells.

• Proof of the DNA-repair system for the identification of mutageneous and cancerogeneous substances. These methods of investigations are recommended by WHO in Supplement 2, 1980 of the International Agency For Research On Cancer (IARC). We offer these in vitro tests as the tests for determination of mutageneous and cancerogeneous effects of chemical substances on the isolated human connective tissue cells. The activity of the DNA-repair system is determined with the help of radiolabelled thymidine or desoxycytidine. Automatic cytotoxicological test. This test developed in our institute is used for identification of toxical potential of the substances and determined general cytotoxicity within 24 h. Literature on request.